Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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TITLE
COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS USING CUMINALDEHYDE
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to compositions comprising a
naturally-occurring compound. More specifically, the present disclosure
relates to
compositions comprising cuminaldehyde and further relates to methods
comprising
administering such compositions.
[0002] Dysphagia is a condition typified by a decreased ability to swallow.
The
normal swallow involves three distinct phases which are interdependent and
well coordinated:
the oral, the pharyngeal, and the esophageal phases. In the oral phase, which
is under
voluntary control, food that has been chewed and mixed with saliva is formed
into a bolus for
delivery by voluntary tongue movements to the back of the mouth, into the
pharynx. The
pharyngeal phase is involuntary and is triggered by the food/liquid bolus
passing through the
faucial pillars into the pharynx. Contraction of the three constrictors of the
pharynx propels
the bolus towards the upper oesophageal sphincter. Simultaneously, the soft
palate closes the
nasopharynx. The larynx moves upwards to prevent food or liquid passing into
the airway,
which is aided by the backward tilt of the epiglottis and closure of the vocal
folds. The
oesophageal phase is also involuntary and starts with the relaxation of the
upper oesophageal
sphincter followed by peristalsis, which pushes the bolus down to the stomach.
[0003] Esophageal dysphagia affects a large number of individuals of all ages,
but is
generally treatable with medications and is considered a less serious form of
dysphagia. Oral
pharyngeal dysphagia, on the other hand, is a very serious condition and is
generally not
treatable with medication. Oral pharyngeal dysphagia also affects individuals
of all ages, but
is more prevalent in older individuals. Worldwide, oral pharyngeal dysphagia
affects
approximately 22 million people over the age of 50.
[0004] The consequences of untreated or poorly managed oral pharyngeal
dysphagia
can be severe, including dehydration, malnutrition, airway obstruction with
solid foods
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(choking), and airway aspiration of liquids and semi-solid foods, promoting
aspiration
pneumonia and/or pneumonitis. Severe oral pharyngeal dysphagia may require
nutrition to be
supplied by tube feeding. Mild to moderate oral pharyngeal dysphagia requires
the texture of
foods to be modified in order to minimize the likelihood of choking or
aspiration.
[0005] Improving an individual's ability and efficiency to swallow improves
the
individual's safety through reduced risk of pulmonary aspiration. An efficient
swallow may
permit greater independence from feeding assistance and/or reduced length of
time spent in
feeding-assistance during meal consumption. Efficient swallow also reduces the
viscosity of
liquids required for safety (e.g., pudding, honey and nectar thickness
products) and may also
limit the use of texture-modified foods. All o f these previously described
factors are aimed at
improving an individual's quality of life.
[0006] Research on the molecular mechanisms underlying pungent sensations
revealed the existence of two cation channels, TRPV1 (transient receptor
potential V1) and
TRPA1 (transient receptor potential Al) that are expressed in the
somatosensory fibers
innervating the oral cavity. TRPV1 is the receptor for heat and burning
sensations such as
capsaicin, the hot molecule in red hot chili peppers. TRPA1 responds to cold
and pungent
compounds such as allyl isothiocyanate (mustard oil) and cinnamaldehyde
(cinnamon). At
moderated concentrations, TRPA1 agonists exhibit a pleasant tingling
sensation.
[0007] Although oral administration of capsaicin has been shown to promote a
swallow reflex, capsaicin is a particularly pungent and toxic compound.
Physiological effects
associated with oral administration of capsaicin include a burning sensation
of heat from the
mid-tongue to the throat, shortness of breath, fainting, nausea, and
spontaneous vomiting.
Mustard oil is similarly pungent, and cinnamaldehyde is tingling. As a result,
only small
quantities of capsaicin, mustard oil or cinnamaldehyde may be administered
without causing
discomfort to the individual. Food products containing capsaicin, mustard
oil or
cinnamaldehyde are frequently not accepted by the consumer as providing a very
unpleasant
mouth feeling. In particular, both the tingling and burning effect are
considered to be very
unsavory affecting the consumption of the food product.
[0008] Another condition adversely affecting some individuals is that their
body
tissues do not respond properly to insulin. Insulin receptors in the tissues
cease to function
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adequately and gluco-dependant cells fail to recognize the presence of
insulin. As a result, the
pancreas needs to secrete more insulin to help glucose enter these cells. The
pancreas tries to
keep up with this increased demand for insulin by producing more. This
phenomenon is called
insulin resistance (also known as low insulin sensitivity). Many people with
insulin resistance
have high levels of both glucose and insulin circulating in their blood at the
same time.
Eventually, the pancreas fails to keep up with the body's need for insulin,
leading to Type 11
diabetes.
[0009] Insulin resistance and Type II diabetes are associated to increased
risk of heart
attacks, strokes, amputation, diabetic retinopathy, and kidney failure. For
extreme cases,
circulation of limbs is affected, potentially requiring amputation. Loss of
hearing, eyesight,
and cognitive ability has also been linked to these conditions
[0010] Management of insulin resistance in children and adults is essentially
based on
dietary and lifestyle changes, including healthier dietary habits and
increased exercise. These
practices can be very efficient in improving insulin sensitivity and in
slowing the progression of
the disease, but they are difficult to apply and actually not followed by most
patients. Type II
diabetes can be treated with drugs promoting insulin sensitivity, but their
efficacy in reducing
the rate of progression of the disease is quite low. Insulin treatment is
required during the most
advanced phases of the disease.
[0011] Products containing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, fibers,
oligosaccharides
and even pro biotics have been proposed as nutritional solutions to improve
insulin sensitivity
and to reduce insulin resistance. However, the efficacy of these nutritional
interventions is
quite marginal and even controversial, with studies showing no or even
deleterious effects.
[0012] Yet another condition adversely affecting some individuals is obesity.
The
prevalence of obesity has increased worldwide to epidemic proportion.
Approximately 1
billion of people worldwide are overweight or obese, conditions that increase
mortality,
mobility and economical costs. Obesity develops when energy intake is greater
than energy
expenditure, the excess energy stored mainly as fat in adipose tissue. Body
weight loss and
prevention of weight gain can be achieved by reducing energy intake or
bioavailability,
increasing energy expenditure and/or reducing storage as fat. However,
overweight subjects
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or subjects at risk o f becoming overweight often need nutritional assistance
for better managing
their body weight, e.g. through increasing satiety and/or reducing body weight
gain.
[0013] Yet another condition adversely affecting some individuals is impaired
neurotransmission, for example low levels of neurotransmitters such as
epinephrine. Impaired
neurotransmission is connected to mood disorders such as depression, anxiety
disorders, and
increased susceptibility to stress, and also connected to cognitive
dysfunction.
[0014] Carbohydrate-rich foods are known for providing important metabolic
fuel for
physical performance, but their effects on mood and cognitive performance are
not very clear.
However, irritability and aggression are influenced by individual differences
in insulin release,
the frequency that meals are eaten, and the effect of these meals on blood
glucose values.
Benton, "Carbohydrate ingestion, blood glucose and mood," Neuroscience and
Biobehavioral
Reviews, 26:293-308 (2002). Furthermore, the ability to control the levels of
blood glucose is
related to both mood and cognition. For example, in a study in which
participants were given
an oral glucose tolerance test and cognitive tests, the older age group showed
that those with
poorer glucose tolerance forgot more words and had slower decision times; and,
in those
participants with poor glucose tolerance, a tendency for blood glucose to fall
below baseline
values was associated with better mood and faster working memory. Young and
Benton, "The
nature of the control of blood glucose in those with poorer glucose tolerance
influences mood
and cognition," Metab. Brain Dis. (Mar. 26, 2014).
SUMMARY
[0015] The present inventors surprisingly and unexpectedly found that
cuminaldehyde is an agonist of the cation channel TRPA1 and activates TRPA1 at
an efficacy
of 140% relative to a known TRPA1 agonist, cinnamaldehyde. Moreover, compared
to
mustard-derived potent agonists such as ally isothiocianate, cuminaldehyde is
not an irritant.
Without wishing to be bound by theory, the present inventors believe that
activation of TRPA1
is effective to 1) help to provoke the swallowing reflex of dysphagic
patients, 2) decrease
appetite by delaying gastric emptying, 3) reduce body weight gain, and 4)
reduce gylcemia by
improving insulin sensitivity or glucose tolerance, 5) improve mood, memory or
cognition.
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Cuminaldehyde is described as having spicy with green cumin and herbal nuances
(Fenaroli's
Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, sixth edition), making it more pleasant
compared to other
TRPA1 agonists.
[0016] Accordingly, in a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a
method of treating dysphagia. The method comprises administering to an
individual having
the dysphagia a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of
cuminaldehyde.
[0017] In a related embodiment, the dysphagia is oral pharyngeal dysphagia.
[0018] In a related embodiment, the composition is a thickened beverage.
[0019] In a related embodiment, the therapeutically effective amount of
cuminaldehyde provokes a swallowing reflex.
[0020] In a related embodiment, the cuminaldehyde is ma form selected from the
group consisting of isolated cuminaldehyde and synthetic cuminaldehyde.
[0021] In another embodiment, a method of decreasing appetite is provided. The
method comprises administering to an individual in need thereof a composition
comprising
cuminaldehyde in an amount therapeutically effective for delaying gastric
emptying.
[0022] In a related embodiment, the individual has a condition selected from
the
group consisting of overweight, obesity, a risk of overweight, a risk of
obesity, and
combinations thereof.
[0023] In another embodiment, a method of reducing body weight gain is
provided.
The method comprises administering to an individual in need thereof a
composition comprising
a therapeutically effective amount of cuminaldehyde.
[0024] In a related embodiment, the individual has a condition selected from
overweight, obesity and a combination thereof
[0025] In another embodiment, a method of reducing glycemia is provided. The
method comprises administering to an individual in need thereof a composition
comprising
cuminaldehyde in an amount therapeutically effective for improving insulin
sensitivity or
glucose tolerance, mood or memory.
[0026] In a related embodiment, the individual is selected from the group
consisting
of an infant born preterm, an infant experiencing intrauterine growth
restriction, a pregnant
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woman suffering from gestational diabetes, a human suffering from insulin
resistance, and a
human suffering from type II diabetes.
[0027] In another embodiment, a composition is provided. The composition
comprises an amount of cuminaldehyde that is therapeutically effective for at
least one of
provoking the swallowing reflex of dysphagic patients, decreasing appetite by
delaying gastric
emptying, reducing body weight gain, or reducing glyccmia by improving insulin
sensitivity or
glucose tolerance or improving mood or memory or cognition..
[0028] In a related embodiment, the composition is a food product. The food
product can comprise a component selected from the group consisting of
protein, carbohydrate,
fat and combinations thereof.
[0029] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for
improving one or more of cognitive performance, cognition, mood, or memory
comprising
administering to an individual in need thereof a composition comprising a
therapeutically
effective amount of cumminaldehyde
[0030] In an embodiment, the individual has a condition selected from the
group
consisting of cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, a mood
disorder,
memory loss, and combinations thereof
[0031] In another embodiment, a method of making a nutritional composition is
provided. The method comprises incorporating into the nutritional composition
an amount of
cuminaldehydc that is therapeutically effective for at least one of provoking
the swallowing
reflex of dysphagic patients, decreasing appetite by delaying gastric
emptying, reducing body
weight gain, or reducing glycemia by improving insulin sensitivity or glucose
tolerance or
improving mood or memory.
[0032] An advantage of the present disclosure is to use a TRPA1 agonist that
is more
pleasantly consumed relative to other TRPA1 agonists.
[0033] Another advantage of the present disclosure is to use a naturally-
occurring
compound to prevent aspiration pneumonia in dysphagic patients and/or trigger
the swallowing
reflex of a dysphagic patient.
[0034] Still another advantage of the present disclosure is use a naturally-
occurring
compound to decrease appetite by delaying gastric emptying.
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[0035] Yet another advantage of the present disclosure is to use a naturally-
occurring
compound to reduce body weight gain.
[0036] An additional advantage of the present disclosure is to use a
naturally-occurring compound to reduce gylcemia by improving insulin
sensitivity or glucose
tolerance.
[0037] Another advantage of the present disclosure is to treat dysphagia with
tolerable side effects or no side effects.
[0038] Still another advantage of the present disclosure is to promote safe
swallowing
of a food bolus.
[0039] Yet another advantage of the present disclosure is to use a TRPA1
agonist that
is more tolerably consumed than mustard derived potent agonists such as ally
isothiocianate.
[0040] An additional advantage of the present disclosure is to use a TRPA1
agonist
that has increased efficacy relative to the powerful agonist cinnamaldehyde.
[0041] Still another advantage of the present disclosure is to improve at
least one of
mood, memory or cognition.
[0042] Still another advantage of the present disclosure is to improve at
least one of
mood, memory or cognition with a compound that can be easily and safely used
in food
products.
[0043] An additional advantage of the present disclosure is to improve at
least one of
mood, memory or cognition with a naturally-occurring compound that can be
found in spices.
[0044] Another advantage of the present disclosure is to improve at least one
of
mood, memory or cognition with tolerable side effects or no side effects.
[0045] Yet another advantage of the present disclosure is to improve at least
one of
mood, memory or cognition with a compound that has increased acceptability,
reduced
pungency, and improved tolerance in the gastrointestinal tract relative to
capsaicin.
[0046] Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be
apparent
from, the following Detailed Description and the Figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0047] Fig. 1 shows the chemical structure of cuminaldehyde.
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[0048] Fig. 2 shows the chemical structure of cinnamaldehyde.
[0049] Fig. 3 shows a chart of body weight gain in mice with chronic ingestion
of
cinnamaldehyde or control.
[0050] Fig. 4 shows a chart of insulin sensitivity in mice with chronic
ingestion of
cinnamaldehyde or control.
[0051] Fig. 5 shows a chart of short term food intake gain after a single
cinnamaldehyde or control ingestion in mice.
[0052] Fig. 6 shows a chart of gastric emptying after a single cinnamaldehyde
or
control ingestion in mice.
[0053] Fig. 7 shows the in vitro effect of cuminaldehyde on cell expression of
TRP
channels.
[0054] Fig. 8A shows the in vitro effect of cuminaldehyde pretreatment on cell
expression of TRP channels as raw values.
[0055] Fig. 8B shows the in vitro effect of cuminaldehyde pretreatment on cell
expression of TRP channels as percentage of control.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0056] All percentages expressed herein are by weight of the total weight of
the
composition unless expressed otherwise. When reference is made to the pH,
values
correspond to pH measured at 25 C with standard equipment. As used in this
disclosure and
the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include plural
referents unless the
context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, "about" is understood to
refer to numbers
in a range of numerals. Moreover, all numerical ranges herein should be
understood to include
all integers, whole or fractions, within the range.
[0057] As used herein, "comprising," "including" and "containing" are
inclusive or
open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method
steps.
However, the beverages provided by the present disclosure may lack any element
that is not
specifically disclosed herein. Thus, any embodiment defined herein using the
term
"comprising" also includes embodiments "consisting essentially of' and
"consisting of' the
disclosed components.
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[0058] "Prevention" includes reduction of risk and/or severity of a disorder.
The
terms "treatment," "treat" and "to alleviate" include both prophylactic or
preventive treatment
(that prevent and/or slow the development of a targeted pathologic condition
or disorder) and
curative, therapeutic or disease-modifying treatment, including therapeutic
measures that cure,
slow down, lessen symptoms of, and/or halt progression of a diagnosed
pathologic condition or
disorder; and treatment of patients at risk of contracting a disease or
suspected to have
contracted a disease, as well as patients who are ill or have been diagnosed
as suffering from a
disease or medical condition. The term does not necessarily imply that a
subject is treated until
total recovery. The terms "treatment" and "treat" also refer to the
maintenance and/or
promotion o f health in an individual not suffering from a disease but who may
be susceptible to
the development of an unhealthy condition. The terms "treatment," "treat" and
"to alleviate"
are also intended to include the potentiation or otherwise enhancement of one
or more primary
prophylactic or therapeutic measures. The terms "treatment," "treat" and
"alleviate" are
further intended to include the dietary management of a disease or condition
or the dietary
management for prophylaxis or prevention a disease or condition. A treatment
can be patient-
or doctor-related.
[0059] As used herein, a "therapeutically effective amount" is an amount that
prevents a deficiency, treats a disease or medical condition in an individual
or, more generally,
reduces symptoms, manages progression of the diseases, or provides a
nutritional,
physiological, or medical benefit to the individual.
[0060] "Animal" includes, but is not limited to, mammals, which includes but
is not
limited to, rodents, aquatic mammals, domestic animals such as dogs and cats,
farm animals
such as sheep, pigs, cows and horses, and humans. Where "animal," "mammal" or
a plural
thereof is used, these terms also apply to any animal that is capable of the
effect exhibited or
intended to be exhibited by the context of the passage. As used herein, the
term "patient" is
understood to include an animal, especially a mammal, and more especially a
human that is
receiving or intended to receive treatment, as treatment is herein defined.
While the terms
"individual" and "patient" are often used herein to refer to a human, the
present disclosure is not
so limited. Accordingly, the terms "individual" and "patient" refer to any
animal, mammal or
human, having or at risk for a medical condition that can benefit from the
treatment.
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[0061] "Food product" and "food composition," as used herein, are understood
to
include any number of optional additional ingredients, including conventional
food additives,
for example one or more proteins, carbohydrates, fats, acidulants, thickeners,
buffers or agents
for pH adjustment, chelating agents, colorants, emulsifiers, excipients,
flavor agents, minerals,
osmotic agents, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, preservatives,
stabilizers, sugars,
sweeteners, texturizers and/or vitamins. The optional ingredients can be added
in any suitable
amount.
[0062] The present inventors tested cinnamaldehyde (chemical structure shown
in
Fig. 2) in mouse models. Cinnamaldehyde is a a,13-unsaturated aldehyde that
activates
TRPA1, but not TRPV1 or TRPM8, with an EC50 of approximately 60 uM. Like
mustard oil,
cinnamaldehyde interacts with TRPA1 in a covalent manner.
[0063] As shown in Fig. 3, mice chronically fed a high fat diet containing 0.2
wt%
cinnamaldehyde gained less weight than mice fed the same high fat diet without
cinnamaldehyde. As shown in Fig. 4, mice chronically fed a high fat diet
containing 0.2 wt%
cinnamaldehyde had improved insulin sensitivity relative to mice fed the same
high fat diet
without cinnamaldehyde. As shown in Fig. 5, mice fed a single dose of
cinnamaldehyde had a
reduction in short term food intake after the administration relative to mice
fed a sham gavage.
As shown in Fig. 6, mice fed a single dose of cinnamaldehyde had delayed
gastric emptying
after the administration relative to mice fed a sham gavage.
[0064] As noted above, the present inventors surprisingly and unexpectedly
found
that cuminaldehyde (chemical structure shown in Fig. 1) is an agonist of the
cation channel
TRPA1 and activates TRPA1 at an efficacy of 140% relative to a known TRPA1
agonist,
cinnamaldehyde. Fig. 7 shows experimental data demonstrating that
cuminaldehyde activates
TRPA1. Cuminaldehyde activated TRPA1 (diamonds) in a dose-dependent fashion,
and no
activation was observed on TRPV1 (triangles), hTRPM8 (squares) and "empty"
cells (-><-).
[0065] Figs. 8A and 8B demonstrate that cuminaldehyde does not desensitize the
TRPA1, TRPV1 or TRPM8 cation channels when applied to cells fifteen minutes
before the
corresponding specific agonist. Specifically, cuminaldehyde was applied to
cells fifteen
minutes before cinnamaldehyde, icilin and capsaicin, which are specific
agonists for TRPA1,
TRPM8 and TRPV1 cation channels, respectively. After specific agonist
application, the
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cation channel expression was measured. Fig. 8A shows the raw values of
channel expression
with or without cuminaldehyde pretreatment, and Fig. 8B shows the values as a
percentage of
the control lacking cuminaldehyde pretreatment. The left bars in each graph
represent the
controls lacking cuminaldehyde pretreatment, the right bars in each graph
represent the samples
including cuminaldehyde pretreatment. Each cation channel showed substantially
similar
results for cuminaldehyde pretreatment relative to control, so cuminaldehyde
does not
desensitize the TRPA1, TRPV1 or TRPM8 cation channels when applied to cells
fifteen
minutes before the corresponding specific agonist.
[0066] Due to the unexpected discovery that cuminaldehyde is also an agonist
of the
cation channel TRPA1, the present inventors believe that cuminaldehyde can
activate TRPA1
similarly to cinnamaldehyde, but without the tingling irritant sensation, to
1) help to provoke
the swallowing reflex of dysphagic patients, 2) decrease appetite and/or
increase satiety by
delaying gastric emptying, 3) reduce body weight gain, and 4) reduce gylcemia
by improving
insulin sensitivity or glucose tolerance. Accordingly, the present disclosure
provides a
composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of cuminaldehyde for
provoking the
swallowing reflex of a dysphagic patient, decreasing appetite by delaying
gastric emptying,
reducing body weight gain, and/or reducing gylcemia by improving insulin
sensitivity or
glucose tolerance. In an embodiment, the cuminaldehyde can be an isolated
compound, such
as cuminaldehyde isolated from essential oils, cumin, cinnamon, bitter orange,
and/or anise.
In an embodiment, the cuminaldehyde can be synthetic cuminaldehyde.
[0067] In an embodiment, dysphagia is treated by administering to an
individual
having the dysphagia the composition comprising a therapeutically effective
amount of
cuminaldehyde. The dysphagia can be oral pharyngeal dysphagia and can be a
consequence of
at least one of surgery for oral cancer, surgery for throat cancer, a stroke,
a brain injury, or a
progressive neuromuscular disease, such as Parkinson's disease.
[0068] In another embodiment, the composition comprising a therapeutically
effective amount of cuminaldehyde is administered to an infant (a child under
the age of 12
months) born preterm and/or experiencing intrauterine growth restriction
(IUGR), a pregnant
woman suffering from gestational diabetes; or a child, an adolescent, or an
adult suffering from
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insulin resistance and/or type II diabetes, such as an animal such as a human.
The composition
can reduce glycemia by improving insulin sensitivity or glucose tolerance in
the subject.
[0069] In yet another embodiment, the composition is administered to an
overweight or
obese subject or to a subject at risk for becoming overweight or obese.
"Overweight" is defined
for an adult human as having a BMI between 25 and 30. Thereby, BMI (body mass
index) means
the ratio of weight in kilograms divided by the height in meters squared; or
the ratio of weight in
pounds divided by the height in inches squared, multiplied by 703. "Obesity"
is a condition in
which the natural energy reserve, stored in the fatty tissue of animals, in
particular humans and
other mammals, is increased to a point where it is associated with certain
health conditions or
increased mortality. "Obese" is defined for a human as having a BMI greater
than 30. The
composition can decrease appetite by delaying gastric emptying and/or reduce
body weight gain
in the subject. In an embodiment, the subject is a non-overweight and/or non-
obese individual
avoiding weight gain.
[0070] The composition is in an administrable form which is preferably
selected from
the group consisting of pharmaceutical formulations, nutritional formulations,
dietary
supplements, functional food and beverage products, and combinations thereof
The present
disclosure provides a method of making a nutritional composition that includes
incorporating a
therapeutically effective amount of cuminaldehyde into the nutritional
composition. The
cuminaldehyde incorporated into the nutritional composition can be in the form
of isolated
cuminaldehyde.
[0071] As noted above, there is a direct link between glucose tolerance and
mood,
memory and cognition. For example, in a study in which participants were given
an oral glucose
tolerance test and cognitive tests, the older age group showed that those with
poorer glucose
tolerance forgot more words and had slower decision times; and, in those
participants with poor
glucose tolerance, a tendency for blood glucose to fall below baseline values
was associated with
better mood and faster working memory. See, e.g., Young and Benton, "The
nature of the control
of blood glucose in those with poorer glucose tolerance influences mood and
cognition," Metab.
Brain Dis. (Mar. 26, 2014). Therefore, without being bound by theory, the
inventors believe that
cuminaldehyde enhances insulin sensitivity and/or glucose tolerance and can
thereby improve one
or more of mood, memory or cognition.
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[0072] Accordingly, in an embodiment, the composition comprising cuminaldehyde
can be administered in a method of improving one or more of cognitive
performance, cognition,
mood or memory in an individual in need thereof. The composition can treat or
prevent one or
more of cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, a mood
disorder, or memory
loss in an individual having one or more of these conditions. The composition
can be
administered at least once a day for at least one week, preferably at least
one month, and more
preferably at least one year. The composition can be administered to an infant
(a child under
the age of twelve months), a child (up to twelve years of age), an adolescent
(twelve to
eighteen years of age), an adult (over eighteen years of age), or an elderly
individual (past the
first two thirds of the average expected lifespan in its country of origin,
preferably past the first
three quarters of the average expected lifespan in its country of origin; an
elderly human is a
person with a chronological age of 65 years or older).
[0073] Cognitive performance may be expressed as ability and speed of
learning,
ability and speed of solving intellectual problems, ability to form and recall
memories, reaction
time, and the like. Cognition is understood as mental processes such as
comprehension,
inference, decision-making, planning, learning, memory, association, concept
formation,
language, attention, perception, action, problem solving and mental images.
Cognitive decline
may manifest as reduced memory; forgetfulness; word or name-finding problems;
and/or
decline in memory, concentration, ability to plan or organize, ability to
perform complex tasks,
and/or cognitive performance; and may result from age, stress, disease, or
other grounds.
Cognitive impairment may manifest in one or more of short-term memory loss,
diminished
capacity to learn, diminished rate of learning, or diminished attention.
[0074] The term "mood" refers to a state or quality of feeling (an emotional
state) at a
particular time. Moods differ from simple emotions in that they are less
specific, less intense,
and less likely to be triggered by a particular stimulus or event. Moods
generally have either a
positive or negative valence. An improved mood may comprise one or more of a
decreased
anxiety level, a decreased stress level, an increased perceived energy level,
or a more positive
emotional state.
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[0075] With respect to dysphagia, a preferred embodiment of the composition
administers a therapeutically effective amount of cuminaldehyde as a
nutritional supplement,
such as a nutrient-dense beverage. In another preferred embodiment for
treatment of
dysphagia, the therapeutically effective amount of cuminaldehyde is
administered in a
hydration supplement. Such supplements may be in the form of a thickened
liquid. In yet
another preferred embodiment for treatment of dysphagia, the therapeutically
effective amount
of cuminaldehyde is administered in a texture-modified food.
[0076] In an embodiment, the composition includes a prebiotic. The prebiotic
may
preferably be selected from the group consisting of acacia gum, alpha glucan,
arabinogalactans,
beta glucan, dextrans, fructooligosaccharides, fucosyllactose,
galactooligosaccharides,
galactomannans, gentiooligosaccharides, glucooligosaccharides, guar gum,
inulin,
isomaltooligosaccharides, lactoneotetraose, lactosucrose, lactulose, levan,
malto dextrins , milk
o ligosaccharides , partially hydrolyzed guar gum, pecticoligosaccharides,
resistant starches,
retrograded starch, sialooligosaccharides, sialyllactose, soyoligosaccharides,
sugar alcohols,
xylooligosaccharides, their hydrolysates, and combinations thereof.
[0077] In an embodiment, the composition includes a probiotic. The probiotic
may
preferably be selected from the group consisting of Aerococcus, Aspergillus,
Bacteroides,
Bifidobacterium, Candida, Clostridium, Debaromyces, Enterococcus,
Fusobacterium,
Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Melissococcus, Micrococcus, Mucor,
Oenococcus,
Pcdiococcus, Penicillium, Peptostrepococcus, Pichia, Propionibacterium,
Pseudocatenulatum,
Rhizopus, Saccharomyccs, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Torulopsis, Weissella,
and
combinations thereof
[0078] In an embodiment, the composition includes an amino acid. The amino
acid
may preferably be selected from the group consisting of alanine, arginine,
asparagine, aspartate,
citrulline, cysteine, glutamate, glutamine, glycine, histidine,
hydroxyproline, hydroxyserine,
hydroxytyrosine, hydroxylysine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine,
phenylalanine,
proline, serine, taurine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, and
combinations thereof.
[0079] In an embodiment, the composition includes a fatty acid component,
preferably a fish oil or a component thereof which is preferably selected from
the group
consisting of docosahexaenoic acid ("DHA"), eicosapentaenoic acid ("EPA"), and
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PCT/EP2014/065473
combinations thereof. DHA and EPA may also be derived from krill, plant
sources containing
co-3 fatty acids, flaxseed, walnut, algae, and combinations thereof Certain
fatty acids (e.g.
18:4 fatty acids) may also be readily converted to DHA and/or EPA. The
composition may
include a-linolenic acid.
[0080] In an embodiment, the composition includes a phytonutrient. The
phytonutrient may preferably be selected from flavonoids, allied phenolic
compounds,
polyphenolic compounds, terpenoids, alkaloids, sulphur-containing compounds,
and
combinations thereof, and in particular from the group consisting of
carotenoids, plant sterols,
quercetin, curcumin, limonin, and combinations thereof.
[0081] In an embodiment, the composition includes an antioxidant. The
antioxidant
may preferably selected from the group consisting of astaxanthin, carotenoids,
coenzyme Q10
("CoQ10"), flavonoids, glutathione, Goji (wolfberry), hesperidin,
lactowolfberry, lignan,
lutein, lycopene, polyphenols, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E,
zeaxanthin, and
combinations thereof
[0082] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the
presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those
skilled in the art.
Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit
and scope of the
present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is
therefore
intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended
claims.
